INTERFACE CIRCUIT FOR BRIDGING VOLTAGE DOMAINS
First Claim
1. An interface circuit for use between components using different voltage domains, comprising:
- a transistor receiving an input voltage and providing an output voltage;
a voltage source, proving a clipping voltage to a terminal of the transistor, preventing the output voltage of the transistor from rising above the clipping voltage;
a capacitor connected between the input voltage and a input terminal of the transistor; and
a blocking voltage source, selectively connected between the capacitor and the input of the transistor, blocking a range of voltages input by the input voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to an interface circuit for bridging voltage domains. The interface circuit receives an input signal, having a larger voltage domain, and safely provides the signal to an electronic device which has a smaller voltage domain. The interface circuit may include a transistor configured as a source follow so that an output of the transistor follows the input of the transistor. A blocking voltage may be provided at the input of the transistor to provide a voltage bias, blocking a range of input voltages to the transistor. The transistor may also have a blocking voltage at a drain terminal of the transistor, to block any output voltage above the blocking voltage.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An interface circuit for use between components using different voltage domains, comprising:
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a transistor receiving an input voltage and providing an output voltage; a voltage source, proving a clipping voltage to a terminal of the transistor, preventing the output voltage of the transistor from rising above the clipping voltage; a capacitor connected between the input voltage and a input terminal of the transistor; and a blocking voltage source, selectively connected between the capacitor and the input of the transistor, blocking a range of voltages input by the input voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An interface circuit for use between components using different voltage domains, comprising:
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a transistor receiving an input voltage signal and providing an output voltage; a voltage source, proving a clipping voltage to a terminal of the transistor, preventing the output voltage of the transistor from rising above the clipping voltage; a capacitor connected between the input voltage and a input terminal of the transistor; and a blocking voltage source, connected between the capacitor and the input of the transistor through a resistor, blocking a selected frequency range of the input voltage signal.
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10. An method of bridging voltage domains, comprising:
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supplying a blocking voltage and an input voltage to an input terminal of a transistor, said blocking voltage blocking a voltage range of the input voltage; and supplying a clipping voltage to a second terminal of a transistor, blocking an output voltage of the transistor from rising above the clipping voltage. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An interface circuit for use between components using different voltage domains, comprising:
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a transistor receiving an input voltage and providing an output voltage; and a voltage source, proving a blocking voltage to a terminal of the transistor, blocking the output voltage of the transistor from rising above the blocking voltage, wherein the blocking voltage is lower than a supply voltage of said components. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. An interface circuit for use between components using different voltage domains, comprising:
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a first transistor receiving an input voltage and providing an output voltage; a voltage source, producing a first blocking voltage; and a second transistor, receiving said first blocking voltage from said voltage source at an input terminal of the second transistor, and providing said first blocking voltage to a terminal of the first transistor, blocking the output voltage of the first transistor from rising above the first blocking voltage, wherein the first blocking voltage is lower than a supply voltage of said components. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification